Executive Summary

I have always been in awe of, and inspired by, what microorganisms can do to and for us humans. As a microbiologist and engineer, I have a background in pathogen genomics and multidrug resistance, human and environmental microbiomes, and engineering of biological processes.

I am currently an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where I focus on the use of wastewater-based surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. My future research interests lie at the intersection of environmental bioprocess engineering and the relationship between the human microbiome and antimicrobial resistance.

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Education & Academic Training

BS in Biological Sciences and Environmental Policy

Carnegie Mellon University, 2012

MS, PhD in Earth and Environmental Engineering

Columbia University, 2014, 2017

Postdoctoral training in Infectious Diseases

Columbia University Medical Center (Current)

Work Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Associate Research Scientist

Uhlemann Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center
Department of Medicine - Infectious Diseases

Jun 2020 – Present New York, NY
Research projects:

  • Optimizing the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic organisms in wastewater
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Uhlemann Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center
Department of Medicine - Infectious Diseases

Dec 2018 – May 2020 New York, NY
Research projects:

  • Microbiome of immunocompromised hosts (transplant recipients, HIV+ patients)
  • Microbiome signatures of colonization & infection by multidrug-resistant organisms
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Uhlemann Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center
Department of Medicine - Infectious Diseases

Jun 2017 – Nov 2018 New York, NY
Research projects:

  • Comparative genomics of pathogenic, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative rods
  • Liver transplant microbiome
 
 
 
 
 

Graduate Research Assistant

Chandran Laboratory, Columbia University
Department of Earth & Environmental Engineering

Sep 2012 – May 2017 New York, NY
Research projects (Nutrient Cycling in Waste Streams):

  • Meta-omics of biological nitrogen removal from wastewater
  • Comparative genomics of phosphorus-accumulating organisms
  • Anaerobic fermentation of food waste
 
 
 
 
 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Collins Laboratory, Carnegie Mellon University
Department of Chemistry

Oct 2010 – May 2012 New York, NY
Research projects:

  • pH-dependent kinetics of TAML-activated oxidation
  • Oxidation of persistent water pollutants using TAML-catalysis
 
 
 
 
 

Intern, Products Research

Proctor & Gamble, Home Care Research & Development

Jun 2010 – Aug 2010 Cincinnati, OH
Responsibilities included:

  • Development and testing of product demos for Dawn
  • Aiding in direction of demo reel for marketing purposes

Awards & Honors

2019: Up-Goer Five Thing Symposium, ASM Microbe 2019: Team MVP, Best Phrase

  • Science Communication Symposium; Presentations of research abstracts using only 1,000 most commonly used words in English

2019: Outstanding Abstract Award, ASM Microbe 2019
2018: Conference Participation Grant, International Microbiome in HIV Workshop
2017: Herbert H. Kellogg Fellowship, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

  • Recognizing distinguished ability as a teaching assistant

2012 – 2016: Presidential Fellowship, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

  • Selected by a panel of SEAS faculty for the distinguished Presidential Fellowship as an incoming MS/PhD candidate due to an “outstanding potential for graduate research and training.” The fellowship provided full financial support to pursue my doctoral research with intellectual freedom in any field of choice within SEAS

2014 – 2015: International Fellows Program, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs

  • Selected for a multidisciplinary group of 30 students to participate in discussions on the role of the US in international affairs

2012: Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society induction, Carnegie Mellon University
2012: Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society induction, Carnegie Mellon University
2012: University Honors, Carnegie Mellon University
2012: Mellon College of Science Honors, Carnegie Mellon University
2012: Outstanding Undergraduate Research, Carnegie Mellon University
2012: Outstanding Academic Achievement, Carnegie Mellon University
2008 – 2011: Science & Humanities Scholar, Carnegie Mellon University

Fellowship & Grant Support

 
 
 
 
 

NIH Pathway to Independence Career Development Award, K99AI163348

National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Aug 2022 – Jul 2024
Operationalizing wastewater-based surveillance of multidrug-resistant bacteria (Role: Principal Investigator)
 
 
 
 
 

RADx-rad Wastewater Detection of SARS-COV-2, U01DA053949

National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Jan 2021 – May 2023
Optimizing SARS-CoV-2 wastewater based surveillance in urban and university campus settings (MPI Uhlemann, Chandran; Role: Co-Investigator)
 
 
 
 
 

TRANSFORM TL1 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Medical Center

Dec 2018 – Nov 2020
Microbial metagenomic pathways contributing to chronic inflammation in patients with HIV; Role: Postdoctoral Fellow
 
 
 
 
 

Undergraduate Researcher Grant

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Sep 2011 – Dec 2011
To fund undergraduate research in Collins Laboratory (Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Chemistry)
 
 
 
 
 

Small Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Jun 2011 – Aug 2011
To fund undergraduate research in Collins Laboratory (Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Chemistry)

Academic & Public Service

Supervisory Scientist, Hydrology

Blueprint Earth 2019 – 2019
I was selected by the non-profit organization Blueprint Earth to serve as a Supervisory Scientist in Hydrology for a 5-day field expedition in the Mojave National Preserve. The mission of Blueprint Earth is to catalog unique ecosystems through a combination of atmospheric, geological, hydrological, zoological, and botanical testing in order to better understand complex systems-level interactions in the natural environment. In my role, I designed a protocol for sampling, culturing, and sequencing of bacteria in water sources around the study area. I helped supervise the 12 undergraduate and post-undergraduate students during the trip, helping provide them with hands-on experience in field research.

Organizer, Microbiome Working Group

Research Seminar Series 2017 – 2018
Organized monthly educational conferences on topics of microbiome research at Columbia University Medical Center

Water Programs Officer

FACE Africa 2014 – 2015
In my role at the grassroots non-profit organization FACE Africa, I helped oversee the planning and implementation of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in Rivercess County, Liberia through remote and in-person field work. My responsibilities included the selection of appropriate project sites based on local public health need and engineering considerations; oversight of project implementation by local teams; and reporting to governmental agencies and donors.

Biology Outreach Programs

Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University 2010 – 2012
Introduced local high school students to biology laboratory practices in a hands-on outreach approach.

Scholar in Service

AmeriCorps 2009 – 2011
Selected as the Community Service Intern at Carnegie Mellon University through AmeriCorps. I networked with local non-profit organizations and organized targeted local service experiences for all campus student groups.

Memberships

Professional Organizations

2019 – Present Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS)
2018 – Present American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
2016 – Present American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2016 – Present Water Environment Federation (WEF)
2016 – Present NY Water Environment Association (NYWEA)

Ad hoc Reviewer

2020, 2021 Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2019 mSphere, Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
2017 Environmental Science & Technology
2016 Chemical Engineering Journal

Teaching Experience & Responsibilities

Workshop Instructor, Biotech without Borders (Fall 2019)
Created and taught a 2.5-hour workshop, “Genomics in the human body: host genetics and the gut microbiome,” at the community biotech lab open to the public, covering whole-exome data analysis to identify potentially pathogenic variants and metagenomics of the gut microbiome.

Teaching Assistant, Aquatic Chemistry (Fall 2016)
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University
New York, NY

Teaching Assistant, Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology (Spring 2012)
Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching Assistant, Experimental Biochemistry (Fall 2011)
Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching Assistant, Ethical Judgments in Professional Life (Fall 2010)
Department of Philosophy, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA

Trainings & Certificates

The Exposome Boot Camp: Measuring Exposures on an Omic Scale

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Jul 2020 – Jul 2020
Two-day intensive boot camp of seminars and hands-on analytical sessions to provide an overview of concepts, techniques, and data analysis methods used in studies of the exposome.

Python and Git Boot Camp

Foundations for Research Computing, Columbia University Aug 2019
Two-day boot camp focused on applying computational methods in research processes, covering Git and Python basics

Machine Learning Boot Camp: Analyzing Biomedical and Health Data

Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Jun 2019 – Jun 2019
Two-day intensive boot camp of seminars combined with hands-on R sessions to provide an overview of concepts, techniques, and data analysis methods with applications in biomedical research.